In an unusual misstep for the stylish star of Scream Queens, Emma Roberts was panned by the media during an appearance at the 2018 Critic’s Choice Awards for her abbreviated bangs choice. It was truly a misguided look; the bangs were too short, too blunt, and didn’t do her gorgeous face any favors whatsoever. However, we’ve all been there before – bangs are notoriously tricky to get right, after all – but Savoir Flair is here to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Bangs are a wonderful hairstyle feature as they can either disguise or enhance, depending on your needs, thereby lending a more flattering frame for your face. With bangs appearing as a popular beauty trend for 2018, there are a few things you should know before going crazy with the scissors. First, always err on the side of length, meaning your first snip should be at least one inch longer than your actual length goal to give you room to slowly adjust. Second, your face shape should determine the type of bangs you get. You’ll find a guide for the ideal face shape/bang type pairings, supported by celebrity examples, below.

1

Round/Heart-Shaped Face

Requires Side-Swept Bangs

If you have a round or heart-shape face, bangs can be a supremely flattering choice, but they can also go terribly awry if they’re not the right type. Blunt-cut bangs, for instance, foreshorten the face and make rounder faces appear even wider.

For the most flattering bang style, choose side-swept bangs that cut diagonally across your forehead or wispy bangs that part off-center. This changes the geometry of your face and elongates it, especially if the bangs are left a little long.

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2

Oval/Diamond Face

Requires Blunt Bangs

A blunt fringe cut straight across the forehead just at or below the brow bone is one of the most flattering styles for an oval or diamond-shaped face. Since this face shape tends to be on the longer side, the blunt cut can make faces appear smaller.

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3

Square/Triangular Face

Requires Face-Framing Bangs

If you have a square or triangular silhouette with a strong jaw, face-framing bangs act as an elegant curtain, drawing back to reveal your face. This style is often cut at one length across the forehead and left much longer on the sides near the temple.

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